I'm short on money right now but if this game is good enough when it gets released it just may force me to buy the wheel, although I was hoping more for a 50 or 60 dollar option. Do I really need a wheel to get the most out of this game?

I'm not really into racing or cars so I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to some of the technical stuff but wouldn't it make sense for all race cars to have anti-lock brakes? Or is it like the case of racers preferring manual over automatic shifting because it gives you more control over the car?

if you are new to the track you should turn on the suggested line as it helps you to learn the track faster.

I would recommend the Logitech DriveFX if you can still get it, is a very good wheel for the ludicrously low price now.

wow thanks a lot for that the wheel seems to get overall good reviews and it's only 50 dollars. Definitely a guaranteed purchase if I buy Forza 3. Oh and I figured out the anti-lock brake dilemma I was having, apparently ABS is banned in all motor sports cause their just too good and they make the races too easy. However all the cars in the demo except for the last one I think have ABS in reality so for the most part I'm still racing with anti-lock brakes on.

btw just out of curiosity what are you guys best lap times for the Audi R8 V10? I think I'm in the top 9% with a lap time of 1:08 but I'm driving with anti-lock brakes on so I'm not sure if that changes the rankings in any way. I'm ranked pretty high on the Porsche too, I think top 8% but I enjoy racing the Audi more. 

Your rank on the leaderboards is only affected(AFAIK) by that triangle with the exclamation point. That is caused by hitting something, going off the track, or using rewind.

I think I have done pretty good on my times. I don't recall the exact percentages for any of them, but I am usually second or third out of all my friends. I think I am in the top %1 with one of the cars.

And I have everything off except for the Automatic shifting.  I think my times would be better if I used manual but my brain cannot handle doing that on the controller.

I got 1:10 and the top 13% I think. Of course, that was before I knew you could take everyone else off the track, so I'm gonna have to do some hotlapping next time I'm on.

Car of the Day 10.5.09

Landin Williams and Evan Griffey, 10.2.2009

The Lancer Evolution IX is the last stop for the venerable 4G63 engine that powered the marque to four straight WRC driver’s titles from 1996 to ’99. The engine was a go-to player for street tuners since its days in the original DSMs, the 1989/90-and-up Eclipse/Talon/Laser. In the Evo IX the powerplant is at its zenith with the addition of MIVEC variable cam technology, hollow cams, revised cylinder head cooling passages and a larger compressor housing on the 16g turbo. Power is rated at 286 but this is merely where the party begins as the Evo is one of the best-ever tuning platforms. Big power, in the realm of 700 horsepower, awaits in the tuning garage. The Evo driving experience is as much about grip as it is about thrust. The IX’s all-wheel drive system features an active center differential that splits torque front to rear from any ratio between fully locked and fully open and front and rear limited-slip differentials that feed the torque to the individual wheels.

Many awe-inspiring modified versions prowl the highway and byway of America and abroad. But the baddest of the bad has to be the HKS CT230R Time Attack Evo. A true terror, its menacing Stinger Red based paint scheme a blur, this car has defied space and time on both sides of the Pacific.

In 2007 this Mitsubishi dominated the Super Lap Battle event in Unlimited AWD class. Skillfully piloted by none-other than drift star Nobutero Taniguchi the HKS Time Attack Evo set the record at famed American time attack venue Buttonwillow Raceway. Its time of 1:43.523 broke the old mark by a whopping 5.383 seconds and still stands as the track record. Many have taken swipes at the time but none has succeeded in toppling the HKS Time Attack Evo. As a result the former record holder’s time is no longer even in the top 10.

The HKS Time Attack Evo also has a place of honor at the birthplace of time attack, the Tsukuba Circuit in Shimotsuma, Japan, where it was the first car in the 53s, its 53.589 also a long standing track record. With 560 horsepower and a supremely well-honed suspension the car illustrates the potential of the Evo line and forces tuners to aim high if they plan to impress.

Mitsubishi Evo IX & HKS Time Attack Evo Gallery

Autoweek.com and Forza Motorsport Join Forces

Written By: Che Chou

Today on Forzamotorsport.net, my team and I have kicked off something I’ve wanted to do on our website for a very long time:  Daily automotive news and car reviews from authoritative and reputable sources in the motor industry. Which means, starting today, you’ll see news headlines from Autoweek.com that we feel are relevant and newsworthy for our community and audience here, making Forzamotorsport.net more and more of a one-stop destination for your car-obsessed existence. In the very near future, expect our sister publication MSN Autos to join the family here by contributing their own brand of automotive news coverage.

 
Check out the first of many articles to hit Forzamotorsport.net on our new Auto Week Channel Here. 

As I look onto the horizon in terms of content for the site, I see this as an important step into transforming Forzamotorsport.net into a compelling destination beyond just those who eat/breathe/sleep Forza. Don’t get me wrong, come 10/22, we’re going to flip a switch on this site and you’re going to see a slew of in-game integration features activated; new functionality such as leaderboards and advanced leaderboard utilities, an improved auction house browsing experience, storefront photos (what we’re calling the “Community Gallery”), a comprehensive “My Forza” page along with public profile pages for every player, and a web-only feature called Community Photo Competitions, where you submit your storefront photo in for a contest and the community (or Turn 10) vote on their favorites – we keep track of winners and honorable mentions with accolades/trophies/ribbons.

Reviews, industry news, racing coverage and more from Auto Week will be hitting Forzamotorsport.net.

But seeing as we (you and I) both love cars, and not just games about cars (although we certainly love those too), automotive news and car reviews might be the glue, the middle-ground, the common denominator that eventually brings all of us together and puts everything into perspective about why we’re here. Meanwhile, our partners over at Autoweek.com have some plans of their own to incorporate Forza Motorsport into their site as well. Time will tell, but for now, enjoy the news, and don’t forget to participate/comment on them in the forums!